Florida marinas take shark-free pledge

Posted on 20 October 2010

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Loggerhead Club & Marina registered all 13 of its Florida locations with the Shark-Free Marina Initiative, which seeks to reduce worldwide shark mortality.

A shark-free marina is one that does not allow caught sharks to be brought into its facility for display or slaughter. The organization works with marinas, fishermen and like-minded non-profit groups to form community-conscious policy and increase awareness of the need to protect sharks.

"As Florida's largest owner of marinas open to the public, we hope to set a great example for others in the industry," said Ray Graziotto, president and chief operating officer of Loggerhead Club & Marina, in a statement. "Together with SFMI, we hope to promote a practical solution to shark overfishing and reduce shark mortality."

Commercial fishing fleets are responsible for between 60 million and 100 million shark deaths a year and many shark species have declined by 90 percent, the marina group said in its release.

Fishermen will not be allowed to bring sharks into a shark-free marina for photographic or trophy display purposes or for cleaning or processing of the shark for fins, meat, jaws or other byproducts.

Click here for the full release.

Comments

6 Thursday, 21 October 2010 01:24

(Still there are still to many  self proclaimed "macho" fishermen who get their jollies  having their pictures taken with dead sharks. And there are still charter boat captains in Florida who encourage it.)

And too many marinas who allow this kind of display on their docks. Too many  are worried they might lose that one out of 30 customers who go for that sort of thing instead of realizing all the respect and loyalty they would engender by protecting our dwindling shark population.

That is why it is imperative for everyone to support Shark-Free Marinas.

5 Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:02

Good news for the people at the Virginia Institute Of Marine Science and the federal fishery people in Rhode Island who were among the first to sound the alarm decades ago. Still there are still to many  self proclaimed "macho" fishermen who get their jollies  having their pictures taken with dead sharks. And there are still charter boat captains in Florida who encourage it.

4 Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:45

I love Loggerhead Marina's!

I Thank  the Seven Kings Holdings group for deciding to become a Leader on this initiative.

Thanks also goes out to Shark-Free Marinas, Marina Network Group and Guy Harvey for pushing this and making so many of us aware.

Support Shark Free Marinas!

3 Wednesday, 20 October 2010 16:52

Well done.

Sign the petition below to help declare Sailfish Marina & Resort a shark-free marina.

http://www.petitiononline.com/shark333/petition.html

2 Wednesday, 20 October 2010 15:33

Kudos to Loggerhead!!

I will send your Marina's any business I can.

1 Wednesday, 20 October 2010 15:20

Thank You!

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